Berlin-Based Studio for open-source music technology: electronic musical instruments, MIDI hardware and kinetic installations.

dadamachines (Johannes Elias Lohbihler)

BerlinNew on Amplifa

1Employees (one-person studio)

About dadamachines

dadamachines is a one-person studio by Johannes Elias Lohbihler in Berlin, specializing in multisensory experiences and open-source music technology. The studio develops and builds electronic musical instruments and MIDI hardware such as the standalone tbd-16 groovebox (16 tracks, over 40 machines and effects, 110 × 110 × 25 mm), the automat toolkit – a plug-and-play MIDI controller with electromagnetic strikers for playing everyday objects – as well as the Eurorack module every division and duration (12HP). In addition to products, hardware design, firmware development, sound design, workshops and technical consulting for custom installations are offered. The tbd-16 is designed, assembled and tested in Berlin; the housing is made of anodized aluminum and powder-coated steel. Customers and projects include Audi (Audi Music Box), the Goethe-Institut China and Red Bull (RBMA-20).

Site: Berlin
Processes: Hardware design, Firmware development, Sound design, Workshops, Technical consulting for custom installations
Materials: Anodized aluminum, Powder-coated steel, Aluminum and steel housings
Employees: 1
Industries: Music technology, Audio electronics, Art and multimedia installations, Art and multisensory installations

01
Concept & product design
02
Hardware design (mechanics, PCB, industrial design)
03
Firmware & DSP development
04
Assembly & testing in Berlin
05
Sales & support

Materials & Construction Methods

Alu eloxiert

Anodized aluminum

Front panel of the tbd-16 groovebox for a robust, premium operating feel.

Stahl pulverbeschich

Powder-coated steel

Base plate of the tbd-16 for stability in compact dimensions.

Alu/Stahl

Aluminum and steel housings

Robust housing of the automat controller (110 × 110 × 26 mm).

Locations

Berlin

Studio: development, assembly, testing and sales

Materials: Aluminum, steel

Products & Components

**tbd-16 Groovebox**In-house development · Music technology

**automat controller**MIDI-to-DC controller · Music technology

**every division and duration**12HP Eurorack module · Music technology

Inside the production

automat controller with MIDI keyboard and solenoid strikers on metal shells

Industries

Music technologyAudio electronicsArt and multimedia installationsArt and multisensory installations

Additional services

Hardware designFirmware developmentSound designWorkshopsTechnical consulting for custom installations

Reference customers

AudiGoethe Institute ChinaRed Bull (RBMA-20)

History

2014
Workshop in Lund (Sweden), starting point of the dadamachines project
2017
Press release for the launch of the automat toolkit (March 29, 2017)
2018
Audi Music Box: iF Design Award 2018 and Red Dot Best of the Best 2017
2019
Press release for the launch of the doppler (March 21, 2019)